A Few Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client has the best data to be had. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Timely Appraisal Services is continuously researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Timely Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, here are some things you can do to reduce turn times every time you order an appraisal from Timely Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass long with the request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique elements.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive more quickly.
Did you make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the notion an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take copious notes. Having the thought that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they put off the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your customers to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Our website is a great resource for tracking the status of your report.: Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7? As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.